Shopping Superformance, prices?

[hercf16]

In the market for a "newer" Superformance, almost pulled the trigger twice
in the past. Asking prices seem a bit high for an 05 ish nice example. 80s?
Are they really bringing that? I was thinking 60 + or -. Also, anybody have
experience importing a used one from Canada?

Can't find my list of improvements over the years, lower foot well, brakes,
suspension etc……...

Herc

[SunDude]

I keep a spreadsheet of "Superformance Cobras for sale" dating back to late 2008.

Of the nearly 400 cars I've tracked, the average asking price is $55,850 USD. The average asking price for 2005MYs is $58,310 USD.

I think you'd have a hard time importing a Superformance Cobra from Canada into the U.S. As I understand it the import prohibition for non-compliant cars (that is, cars that don't meet U.S. safety and emissions standards) is 25 years.

Furthermore Superformance Cobras are much rarer up here in Canada, and the prices tend to be much higher than they are in the U.S. so I doubt you'd find a real "deal" up here anyways. Unless you found one already...

[madmaxx]

It appears there are 17? Superformances for sale on Cobra Country, every color and engine you could want.

New spf is every bit of $80k plus with a Roush. You most likely will spend low to mid 60's for a SPF and Roush package.

Anything over chassis 2000 you are good to go probably 1800. As far as importing to canada who knows.

The difference between a new spf with roush and used is $15k to $20k. Huge advantage to used is IT IS ALREADY TITLED. For the most part sorted, you can touch, feel, smell, drive used before you buy. SPF prices only go up year over year as compared to BDR which are pretty negotiable when new. I dont think they hold their values as well. Good cars but not SPF's just as SPF's are not Kirkhams.


If you can get a 9/10 spf with roush (polished better) for mid 60's and keep it pristine you will never loose money when you sell. You may get a new BDR with a non-roush 427 stroker in the high 50's but it will sell in the 40's. So you pay now or later.

[Mr Jody]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

It appears there are 17? Superformances for sale on Cobra Country, every color and engine you could want.

It seems that for quite a while now, there have been more SPFs for sale there than pretty much everything else combined. I don't think I have ever heard anything negative about them, and they are not at fire sale asking prices, and I don't know that there is an overwhelming number of them out there as compared to other makes (I would think that based on sheer numbers, FFR would have more). I see that some are for sale by dealers, but they do have miles on them, so they are not new.

I know everyone has their reasons for selling, just as they have their reasons for buying a particular make to start with, and this is just an observation, but it makes me wonder why so many people want to sell them, and if there is a common thread.

[buddyg]

I bought #1309 which was made in 2003 for $62,000 car had 4477 miles.

[madmaxx]

You need to know painting a SPF is nothing compared to painting a raw body kit car. The labor and $$$ is with the first paint job, repainting a SPF at most for top notch job $3-5k? Its a wet sand and paint, little to zero body work. If you save $15-20K over new and get the exact color you want by painting yourself its worth it. Plus drive the car a year and get the rock chips in the original color. Obviously if you can get the exact color and engine perfect but that is odd, usually one or the other is second choice on used. Heck a new paint job is exponentially cheaper than installing a different engine.


Average price does not mean much. A fully polished roush is $17K? a 351W is $6K? I have seen cars with 1K miles look like crap and others with 10K miles look perfect. Its all on how they were cared for and if they were driven in the rain etc.....

For whatever reason individuals always like to give more $$$$ to dealers, I have never understood that. In the end neither has a warranty (as far as used) and the warranty isnt worth much anyway. These are painfully simple cars. The dealer selling a used car is lucky to have driven the car 25 miles, they dont want to know about any issues. I learned that from watching chasing classic cars.

Remeber there is no difference between a 2000 spf and 2014 as far as looks. they look identicle, one may have a different style ebrake or dropped footweels but you cannot tell the year by how it looks. I beleive around 1800 is when the last major changes were made such as the footboxes and that is why I said chassis 2000 or newer. After that they may have switched rear ends from Ford to Dana, different style ebrake but very minimal not affecting value

[SunDude]

My guess is that there are so many SPFs for sale because so many have been built vs other makes.

Superformance has produced more than 3,000 Cobra roadsters so far. Admittedly this isn't as many as Factory Five Racing (close to 9,000), but it's far more than most other makes.

[1795]

SunDude is correct concerning concerns about importing a Superformance from Canada. The US Customs agents may not allow it in, as it does not meet safety and emission standards. Plenty of good ones already here in the US and with good weather upon us, probably will be more on the market as well.

[vatdevil]

I would look for cars roughly 10 years old. At this point, most of the depreciation has ended. And you won't fret over paint chips. I would opt for one with a Ford 8.8 rear. There's few gear choices on the Dana rear. Overall, SPF is the best option in my opinion. Good decision.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by hercf16

In the market for a "newer" Superformance, almost pulled the trigger twice
in the past. Asking prices seem a bit high for an 05 ish nice example. 80s?
Are they really bringing that? I was thinking 60 + or -. Also, anybody have
experience importing a used one from Canada?

Can't find my list of improvements over the years, lower foot well, brakes,
suspension etc……...

Herc

Herc,

Once a titled SPF has left the continental US borders, it cannot be imported back. Same goes for a titled US SPF being imported to Canada........That, unfortunately for you, is the bottom line.


Bill S.

[cobrarob]

Sundude , Brian , good to see you on the forum , we havnt talked in ages

Do you still have the SPF beast

Rob

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Herc,

Once a titled SPF has left the continental US borders, it cannot be imported back. Same goes for a titled US SPF being imported to Canada........That, unfortunately for you, is the bottom line.


Bill S.

Yeah,

Ask me how I know...........

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Once a titled SPF has left the continental US borders, it cannot be imported back. Same goes for a titled US SPF being imported to Canada........That, unfortunately for you, is the bottom line.

I can't speak to importing a Canadian car into the US, but you can import a titled US SPF into Canada - as long as it's a minimum of 15 years old, and you have the documentation to prove it. After that you get to do the happy dance with your provincial safety inspection, jump through a few flaming hoops and perform a few unnatural acts and you're good to go. At least that was my experience - YMMV.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

I can't speak to importing a Canadian car into the US, but you can import a titled US SPF into Canada - as long as it's a minimum of 15 years old, and you have the documentation to prove it. After that you get to do the happy dance with your provincial safety inspection, jump through a few flaming hoops and perform a few unnatural acts and you're good to go. At least that was my experience - YMMV.

True dat! A "non-conforming" car even if registered in the US for years, cannot be re-imported. Ask me how I know.........................

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

True dat! A "non-conforming" car even if registered in the US for years, cannot be re-imported. Ask me how I know.........................

Yours is exactly the car I had in mind when I made my post.

Although, if you completely tore it down and shipped it back strictly in bare component form, you would be able to physically get it back over the border legally.


Bill S.

[1795]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Yours is exactly the car I had in mind when I made my post.

Although, if you completely tore it down and shipped it back strictly in bare component form, you would be able to physically get it back over the border legally.


Bill S.

Now why didn't I think of that With all of the crap that we wade through in life, there is always some good attached to it, like meeting new people and making new friends, like Rick and Bill

For all of those thinking of it, do not try to import a titled replica into the US, no matter where it has been before...

[SunDude]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

True dat! A "non-conforming" car even if registered in the US for years, cannot be re-imported. Ask me how I know.........................

Isn't the U.S. import prohibition 25 years on non-compliant cars...? In other words, if the car is 25 years or older, you can import it just fine, no?

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by SunDude

Isn't the U.S. import prohibition 25 years on non-compliant cars...? In other words, if the car is 25 years or older, you can import it just fine, no?

Yep. 15 in Canada, 25 in the US

[WardL]

I think it is an amazing great deal to get a late production SPF with less than 5,000 miles for $65k when the previous owner spent $80k 3 years ago. You have to go to a private party to get this price. One advantage to so many SPFs on the market is that they are liquid meaning they are easier to buy and sell. It takes awhile to turn over a Cobra because the market is so thin with few cars and few buyers. 17 SPFs for sale in the USA? How many other single style of car is available in the USA? 17,000 Mustangs?? It also shows how great the website Cobra Country works for SPF. Of course...I'm biased!

[madmaxx]

Cobra Country is the ONLY place to sell a cobra period. Even Hillbanks has not found a better avenue!!! Curt is exceptionally to deal with and if you look at his statistics on average 2500? people visit his web page dailey!!!! Peak selling months are May, June!! Don't forget his website always works!!!